Sunset & away with Grandchildren.

To the left of Sadies panoramic windscreen the three bladed electric dance of the Whitelees forest wind turbines. To the right a falling away of the hill to the Clyde valley, Glasgow and beyond to the Campsie and Dumbarton hills.

In the centre the best show on earth. A setting sun sliding between rolling banks of eastward bound Cumulus. The ever deepening red and gold depths walking across the landscape on slanting heaven given rays of joyful light.

This ability to park Sadie facing west in order to collect another sunset has undoubtedly been one of the greatest joys of my travels. Unlike the TV this nightly show suffers no interruptions from adverts or news bulletins. The occasional break to make a cup of tea maybe. Even then I find myself bending forward to look out in case I miss a particularly stunning moment. It is a show I never tire of and frequently I have passed a good overnight spot ending up in a less suitable but westward facing spot. Invariably the reward has outweighed the disadvantages

Location - Kettrick Bay - Isle of Bute. 31/7/12

Another glorious sunset last night but this time with a difference. Aidan, Rebecca and dad Chris were sharing it with me as we settled for the night next to Kettrick beach here on the Isle of Bute. A difference indeed for myself and Tanya to share our home with guests. But what a good time we've had paddling our blow up canoe, flying the kite and revelling in Scotland at it's best. Calm, warm and dry. You cannot ask more than that when this far North and West.

The rain very conveniently delayed it's arrival until late this evening which is fine as tomorrow is our return ferry trip and home to an anxious Mum. Michele dared let her two treasures be taken away in a house on wheels by two men daft enough to go swimming in the 'cold enough to instantly deep freeze you' waters of the Clyde Estuary. Hopefully we will return the 'treasures' happy, sunburned and not too badly traumatized.

Location - North again - Oxenhope, Yorkshire.

I seem to be on a 'Relative' trip. Relative meaning kith and kin as opposed to 'relative to this and that.'

I left the comfort and stability of Salisbury a few days ago (19/7/12). The leaving was, as expected, with mixed feelings. I enjoy my time with brother Richard. I feel comfortable and welcomed whenever I am there. Being looked after so well by Richard's carers is also a lovely treat for me. I feel very privileged, and fortunate to be able to enjoy such luxury amid the dysfunction and deprivation of which, on a daily basis we are reminded, surrounds us on all sides.

One such reminder, and a particularly relevant one, came via the radio in Sadie within ninety minutes of leaving Salisbury. I was at Tidworth, having lunch in Tescos parking lot after topping up with a few fresh supplies. Radio 2 was on doing an item about hunger in the world. There was a report of starving and dying children in the Yemen which is awful and horrifying but sadly fell on ears hardened and conditioned to automatic emotional dullness plus a considerable degree of immunity to emotional response. This due to a lifetime of hearing and seeing regularly on TV such harrowing reports. They invariably render me helpless to do anything meaningful about the situation apart from making a charitable donation in order to throw balm and calm at my own disturbed and troubled mind.

The second report however; was from Salisbury and about young Mums who had hit hard times and were going hungry themselves in order to feed their children. That did emotionally affect me. There was I listening to the report and sinking my teeth into a sweet sticky pecan nut cake while in the very town I had just left there was, in this age of modern day social care and responsibility, a young Mum who had not eaten for 5 days because she could only afford enough food for her children.

Tears, personal thoughts, and sadness for all who suffer followed.

A new perspective to my journey perhaps? I don't know but it gave me a determination to at least 'be there' in the best way I can for my grandchildren. Even if that means something as menial as just writing a blog so they can keep up with, and perhaps be mentally fed and encouraged by their totally mad motorhome travelling Grampy.

So; onto Swindon to touch base with two of my grandchildren and then a whole evening with my step grandchildren, their Mum and Dad and a very nice 'Harvester Pub' meal.

The next day found me in Derbyshire for an overnight with my cousin David and his wife Debbie. More stories and more appreciation of just how difficult the so say 'normal' task of raising children can be. An added dimension to this visit was a guided tour of David's veterinary practice in the near by village of Ashby. Impressive and nice to be on the vets side of the counter for a change without a sick Tanya. Credit card still got a bashing though as I topped up Tanya's flea and tick treatments taking advantage of the very generously offered staff discount.

On again to Oxenhope, Yorkshire to meet younger brother Robert, wife Alison, her sister Penny and husband Chris plus various children and wives. A sloped road in front of their house became home for Sadie, Tanya and myself for two nights with Tanya charming everyone and deciding she very much liked the sofas.

From Yorkshire via the hills and dales to Stavely in the Lake District to stay with old friends. Finally to this wild camping spot in the depths of the Scottish Borders for a quiet night before heading north to East Kilbride.

Interesting little spot this and found due to me being tired, missing the sat nav cue, and seeing just the right sort of level gateway. Everywhere was very wet so a level gateway with a firm hardcore base was very welcome indeed. Especially as Mr farmer came by shortly after I parked. He stopped, chatted and thankfully said. "No, I caaant sees no problem bein there the one night."

A few minutes later we came across a ford as I walked Tanya down the sharp zig zag road. "Phew," I said as I looked at the torrent of swiftly flowing water swollen by, as Mr farmer had explained, four days of rain. There is no way I am going to risk driving Sadie through that. Guess tomorrow it is back the way we came for a few miles.

For now though this spot is very very peaceful and it's not raining. (Tues 24/7/12)

Sick dog walking.

Hmmmm! I thought, she is right. " Well Tanya"  I said, "I guess I did hurt you, by driving a motorhome on top of you an all that, but doggy, you ain't daft when it comes down to knowing where I hurt."

I, of course, like Tanya, suffer great pain in my hip area, particularly the left hand pocket region where my credit card lives snuggled neatly in my wallet.  

Guess where we were as I was feeling this pain? 

'Yes you and Tanya are right?'  The vet's again, of course! And what was I being advised to do?

Organise some expensive moving floor doggy hydrotherapy to kick start Tanya's brain into four legged mode.

Tanya was healthy and her leg was healing well. But use all four legs ..... naaah! Why bother when you can manage perfectly well with three. Try as I might I did not seem to be able to persuade her to walk using her injured leg.

So. Out from the vet's we go and back into Sadie to ring round the Doggy Hydrotherapists recommended. As luck would have it 'Top Dog' in Andover had a free appointment that very afternoon.

 "OK, we are on our way." Says I.

A couple of days have passed since that first appointment with Sara and Maggie at Top Dog. I am, however; very pleased to announce Tanya's initial and reluctant Immersion into a large fish tank complete with warm water and moving floor has proved highly successful. Tanya is now starting to walk with all four legs and, I hope, another couple of sessions plus regular short walks should very quickly get her back to normal.

One of our short walks was from 'Wrays Hill' near to where we had been staying with my sister and family for a couple of days. As we drew in to the 'Wray Hill' car park there was this wonderful motorhome conversion of a vintage Bedford Green Goddess fire engine with modified caravan perched atop. I managed to chat to the couple who owned her and who were being hassled by the traffic cops for some infringement of the law somewhere. Mr owner did not seem overly hassled and intimated this was a common occurrence. 

" They all get bogged down in the end as no one, including DVLA can decide what vehicle this is."

Certainly his strategy of sitting with cup of tea high in the, difficult to access, living area while Mr Plod stood outside trying to fill in forms and having to shout up to him for information...... weeeelll .... put it this way...... as I left Mr Plod was looking none too happy with his lot!

I kept my eyes firmly averted as we drove slowly by. I did not want a frustrated and 'wound up' traffic cop turning his attention my way.